Aamir's remarks over intolerence were 'innocent', says Rajkumar Hirani

Mumbai: Director Rajkumar Hirani says that actor Aamir Khan's controversial statements were "innocent" and that the hype created because of it should've been ignored.

"If you take the answer what he said, he's clearly said, 'I feel distressed, I feel sad that my wife once said this to me.' To me, it was a very innocent answer," said Hirani at the Royal Stag Barrel Select Perfect Strokes Season 2 along with veteran writer Javed Akhtar.

"Perhaps he shared something from his family conversations with the public. And according to me, that (hype) should've been ignored. But the manner in which people have attacked him, I see a bit of intolerance in that, in certain sections," he added.

Hirani also said that people need to become "a bit more tolerant".

"I feel we need to pick up on positive things and talk about those things, we all need to be careful," he added.

The row began at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards where numerous other issues were discussed but Aamir's statement that his wife suggested they leave the country was picked up everywhere, and was slammed and mocked at.

"If you analyse that interview, it's not that Aamir Khan called for a press conference and said, 'this is what I feel'. He was called for an award function. He was asked on various topics and one of the questions happened to be this (on intolerance)," Hirani said.

The Punjab unit of the Shiv Sena had offered Rs. 1 lakh to anyone who slapped Aamir, while another of its leaders said that the "PK" actor should go to Pakistan, while members of the Hindu Sena even booked tickets for Aamir and his family for Pakistan.

Aamir's religion also came into the picture among numerous negative remarks on the issue.

"And this fact was connected to the incident that he is a Muslim. This thought had never even come in our minds. I've celebrated every Diwali at Aamir's house. Today, I'm sitting with Javed sahab, but this thought that a Hindu and Muslim are sitting together didn't come to our minds," Hirani said.

"This thought should be the last thought. The manner in which this is spreading, I feel there is a certain divide that's been created," he added.

Hirani has delivered two blockbusters, "3 Idiots" and "PK" with Aamir.

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says superstar Aamir Khan, who has been embroiled in a controversy for his comments on intolerance, is a true son of the soil and does not have to prove anything.

The 50-year-old "PK" star during an award function in the national capital had said he has been "alarmed" by a number of incidents and his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should leave the country.

Mehra, who has directed Aamir in "Rang De Basanti", said he was in pain to hear the reaction against the actor for his comments.

"Aamir is a dear friend and I am in tears when somebody passes a comment because he is a true son of the soil for me. It is amazing. He does not have to prove anything," Mehra told PTI on the sidelines of IFFI.

Following the political storm over his comments, Aamir came out with a statement, saying he and his wife had no intention of leaving the country. The actor also said that he stands by his remarks on intolerance.

"To all those people who are calling me anti-national, I would like to say that I am proud to be Indian, and I do not need anyone's permission nor endorsement for that. To all the people shouting obscenities at me for speaking my heart out, it saddens me to say you are only proving my point," Aamir had said in his statement.